Before vaccines, many children became seriously ill or died of diseases like whooping cough, measles, mumps, meningitis and pneumonia. While the United States currently has record, or near-record, low numbers of cases of vaccine-preventable diseases, the viruses and bacteria that cause them still exist. Even diseases that have been eliminated in this country, such as polio, are only a plane ride away and can be contracted by those who are not immunized.

“Pertussis, or whooping cough, is out of control in Texas, and the frustrating thing is there’s a vaccine for it,” says Dr. Jane Siegel, an infectious disease specialist on the medical staff at Children’s Medical Center Dallas. “Waning immunity in the adolescent and adult population means they can contract the disease — but where they develop only a mild case, they can give the disease to infants who are not yet completely protected by the three injections given at 2, 4 and 6 months of age. These children can become very ill and even die.”

Children younger than age 5 are particularly susceptible to disease because their immune systems have not built up the necessary defenses. The Pediatric Infectious Disease Group at Children’s strongly advises immunizing your child against the full spectrum of diseases as recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics. And they’re not the only ones. In the Dallas area alone, more than 200 physicians presented the Dallas Morning News with a letter supporting childhood immunizations in 2002.

Scientists are working constantly to improve vaccines, making them safer and more tolerable to the youngsters who need them most. In December 2002, the Food and Drug Administration approved Pediarix^TM, a combination vaccine that protects against diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, polio and the hepatitis B virus. Pediarix is recommended as a three-dose series for infants, eliminating as many as six separate injections before the age of 1 year.

Another new vaccine is Prevnar^®, which protects children against meningitis, pneumonia and other common but serious infections caused by pneumococcal bacteria. The FDA licensed Prevnar in 2000. It is recommended for routine administration in all children ages 2 months to 2 years and in those children 2 to 5 years of age who have not received it previously but have a high risk for serious pneumococcal infection, such as those with sickle cell disease.

Immunizations aren’t just for young children. The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices reminds parents about the meningococcal vaccine, which could help protect the lives of freshmen going off to college. Freshmen, particularly those who live in dormitories, are at modestly increased risk for meningitis — a potentially fatal swelling of the lining of the brain — relative to other people their age. Vaccination with the quadrivalent mengingococcal polysaccharide vaccine significantly decreases the risk.

“Meningococcal meningitis isn’t widespread enough throughout the overall population to be considered a public health issue — around one case per 100,000 students — but we want to educate families about the existence of a vaccine should they choose to get it,” says Dr. Siegel.

In most cases, vaccines are effective and cause no side effects or only mild reactions, such as fever or soreness at the injection site. Although the risk is extremely small, parents should remember that a vaccine is like any medicine and could cause a problem, such as a severe allergic reaction. It is important that parents weigh this small risk against the benefits and decide for themselves.

For more information about childhood immunizations, visit the Texas Department of Health Web site at www.tdh.state.tx.us/immunize and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Web site at www.cdc.gov/nip. Or call the National Immunization Hotline at 800-232-2522 (English) or 800-232-0233 (Spanish).

Click here for the General 2003 Immunization Schedule